World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly, 2024

Pope Francis has chosen a line from Psalm 71 -- "Do not cast me off in my old age" -- as the theme for the 2024 celebration of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

In a note announcing the theme for the day, which will be celebrated July 28, the Vatican said the choice was "meant to call attention to the fact that, sadly, loneliness is the bitter lot in life of many elderly persons, so often the victims of the throwaway culture."

Pope Francis celebrated the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021 and decreed that it be observed each year on the Sunday closest to the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Jesus' grandparents.

As the Catholic Church prepares for the Holy Year 2025, Pope Francis has asked Catholics to focus on prayer, which is why he chose the prayer of an elderly person from the Psalms for the theme, the Vatican said in a statement released Feb. 15.

The logo for World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly 2024
This graphic for World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2024 features the theme for the July 28 celebration: "Do not cast me off in my old age," a passage from Psalm 71.
"By cherishing the charisms of grandparents and the elderly, and the contribution they make to the life of the Church, the World Day seeks to support the efforts of every ecclesial community to forge bonds between the generations and to combat loneliness," the statement said.

Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, said the theme is a reminder "that, unfortunately, loneliness is a widespread reality, which afflicts many elderly people, often victims of the throwaway culture and considered a burden to society."

Families and parishes, he said, "are called to be at the forefront in promoting a culture of encounter, to create spaces for sharing, listening, to offer support and affection: thus, the love of Gospel becomes concrete."

"Our communities, with their tenderness and affectionate attention that does not forget its most fragile members, are called to manifest the love of God, who never abandons anyone," the cardinal said.

Pope Francis established the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday of July to coincide with the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, to emphasize the pastoral care of the elderly as a priority. Not only are grandchildren and young people called upon to be present in the lives of older people, but older people and grandparents also have a mission of evangelization, proclamation and prayer, and of encouraging young people in their faith

Seniors - A New Vocation

I woke up one day only to discover I was a senior citizen! Where did the time go? It seemed like only yesterday that I was "the young guy" among my "older" brother priests. I must not have been paying much attention as the days turned into months, then into years. Now, I look into the mirror as I prepare to shave in the morning and ask, "Who are YOU? Where did YOU come from?"

It’s true that age brings its own share of aches and pains and wrinkles we “seniors” didn’t have or, at least, never noticed before. But it is also true that age brings a certain wisdom and insight born only of experience … at living life! Been there, done that! My hair — when I had it —  was brown … once. I could read my prayer book or menus … without glasses, once. When did my clothes shrink? What did she just say? Where are my keys? If you don’t take these things too seriously, one can just smile and say, “well, I guess I am getting older!” It’s really not so bad, especially when you consider the alternative.

Age is a gift, a beautiful gift to be cherished. A gift that offers us memories, reminders of how fortunate we’ve been through the years and of all the people who have blessed the journey we’ve taken. As seniors, we’ve lived and learned, we’ve laughed and cried, we’ve loved and have been loved in return. And there is still more to come!

Continue reading Bishop O'Connell's message HERE or listen to the pod:

 

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Looking for ways to celebrate this special day?

Click the link for some great and simple ideas.

Ideas for celebrating
‘World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly’
 

Individuals and Families

• Have children and grandchildren bless the grandparents

• Visit an elderly neighbor and be a blessing to them; do a service or bring a small gift

• Make a display table of photographs of deceased grandparents and elderly

• Create a memory scrapbook

• Remember your grandparents by doing something they loved (make a recipe, listen to music, go fishing or some other activity)

• Pray the Novena of Sts. Anne & Joachim for Faith and Perseverance • www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/upload/nfp-sts-anne-joachim-novena.pdf
  
   

For Reading and Reflection:

“Letter to the Elderly” written by Pope St. John Paul II (1999) • www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_01101999_elderly.html

“The Blessings of Age – A Pastoral Message on Growing Older within the Faith Community,” USCCB (1999- English & Spanish) • www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/blessings-of-age

“The Catholic Grandparents Handbook:  Creative Ways to Show Love, Share Faith, and Have Fun,” Lorene Hanley Duquin, Word Among Us Press, February 2018

More Resources:

Catholic Grandparents Association website (emblem, poster, prayer)

• www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org/

Franciscan Media, Saint of the Day:  Saints Anne & Joachim

• www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-joachim-and-anne

Holy See – Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life webpage

• www.laityfamilylife.va/content/laityfamilylife/en/amoris-laetitia/iniziative-e-risorse/giornata-mondiale-e-anziani.html

Jesuit Resource.org

• www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/prayers-for-grandparents

Diocese of Trenton webpages:

• dioceseoftrenton.org/golden-years

• dioceseoftrenton.org/50th-wedding-anniversary

• dioceseoftrenton.org/world-day-grandparents-and-elderly 

Grandparents have a place in the heart of a family

Mary Morrell | Contributing Editor, The Monitor

Pope Francis obviously has a special place in his heart for grandparents.

This was something I rediscovered while preparing to write a story about World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. I read much of what Pope Francis has written over the years about his pontificate concerning the need to value, care for and be present to the older members of society, and grandparents, no matter how old they are.

Although there were many beautiful teachings and stories, one grabbed my heart and brought me to tears. It was the story about his love for his grandmother Rosa Bergoglio, who was a great influence on his life.

[Continue reading...]

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When The Monitor hits home      Rayanne Bennett | Associate Publisher, The Monitor

Each month, when considering the subject of our cover page, we try to select something that is meaningful and applicable to the lives of our readers. Some covers come closer to the target than others, but this month is about as spot on as any that I can recall.

With few exceptions, most of us have grown up with one or more grandparents in our lives.  We likewise know elderly people from our parishes, neighborhoods and workplaces. If we are so blessed, we have become or will become elderly ourselves. And so, the decision of Pope Francis to establish World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly and to call us all to look with fresh eyes on the state of older persons is universally relevant to each of our lives, no matter where we are in our journeys.

[Read more...]

CELEBRATING GRANDPARENTING VIDEO SERIES


 

Following his Jan. 31 Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis announced his decision to establish a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly to take place annually on the fourth Sunday of July. The theme of the day, “I am with you always,” serves as a reason for celebration of all generations together.

In honor of the day, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will serve as principal celebrant for Mass in St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, Toms River, July 25, the day before the memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus. The 11 a.m. Mass will be livestreamed and can be viewed at Youtube.com/trentondiocese and other diocesan media outlets.

The Holy Father expressed concern that grandparents and the elderly are often forgotten, but offered encouragement that, in the darkest moments, the Lord sends angels to console their loneliness.

In their pastoral guidelines for this annual celebration, the Vatican Dicastery of Laity, Family and Life explains it as “a way of incorporating attention for the frail elderly into the routine fabric of our pastoral work,” through such things as prayer, addressing the issue of loneliness and creating solidarity networks.

Continue reading...